Germans braced for restrictions to get stricter as infection rates leap
COVID cases are continuing to rise across Europe with many countries set to impose tougher lockdown measures.
German chancellor Angela Merkel held video-conference talks with regional governors last night after a leap in infections.
In the latest figures from Germany’s Robert Koch Institute, cases increased by 7,709 to 2,667,22 while deaths rose by 0 to 74,414.
The number of patients in intensive care units rose to 3,117 – the highest in more than a month.
Leaked proposals from Ms Merkel’s office suggested extending the current lockdown until April 18 and applying an ‘emergency brake’ to prevent any easing of restrictions in areas where cases exceed 100 per 100,000-population.
Companies unable to offer workingfrom-home options may be asked to provide employees with one or possibly two Covid-19 tests each week. Hotels, restaurants, gyms and cultural venues are currently closed, while non-essential shops have restrictions on opening hours. Italy last night announced 386 new coronavirus deaths, up from 300 a day earlier, putting the death toll at 10 ,328 – the second highest in Europe and seventh highest in the world. There were 13,846 new infections, down from 20,1 9 a day earlier. The total number of intensive care patients increased to 3, 10 from 3,448. When Italy’s second wave of Covid-19 was accelerating swiftly in November, hospital admissions were rising by about 1,000 and intensive care occupancy by 100 each day.
Thousands of Lombardy residents failed to show up for jabs when Aria, a company owned by the regional government, failed to send them details of their bookings. Lombardy president Attilio Fontana said: ‘I have asked the board of Aria to step down and if they refuse I will fire them.’
Meanwhile, Greece’s government has ordered private doctors to work in ‘overwhelmed’ public hospitals amid 1,707 new infections and 69 new deaths – taking the latter tally past 7, 00.
France reported 1 ,792 new cases yesterday, more than double the 6,471 of a week earlier, while 343 new deaths took the overall tally to 92,621.
Spain last night reported 16,471 new cases and 633 deaths, though these covered four days, taking the respective tallies to 3,228,803 and 73, 43.